Heavy reduction in salaries of special police officers for law and order

Special Police Officers (SPOs), who play a crucial role in security operations in Jammu Kashmir, are receiving extremely low salaries for their various duties, according to a report by Hindustan Times. These officers undertake responsibilities ranging from anti-terror operations to maintaining law and order, but their remuneration is very low and they receive no retirement benefits.

The salary structure for SPOs is determined based on their years of service. Officers who have served for less than five years receive ₹6,000 per month, those who have completed five years of service receive ₹9,000, and those with 15 years or more of service receive a salary ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹18,000. Recently, the working conditions of these officers have come back into discussion following the murder of two missing SPOs, Rashpal Kumar (45 years) and Babbi Chand (57 years), in the upper areas of Dachan.

Alongside maintaining law and order, these officers also participate in anti-terror operations and serve as domestic assistants to senior police officers. However, the government has sanctioned an amount of ₹5 lakh as compensation for the heirs of an SPO who dies during a terrorist attack or operation in Jammu Kashmir. In addition to this ₹5 lakh compensation, SPO families are also eligible to receive additional assistance through the contributory welfare fund and insurance.

VDC SPO Shashi Kumar told Hindustan Times that since 2016, SPOs are properly recruited, but when terrorism was at its peak, there were no specific rules and anyone could join the police force. Today, candidates must pass physical tests and educational qualifications and are also provided with proper weapons training, but the government pays them a fixed salary based on their years of service.

Kumar further stated that in March 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs approved the new Structured Village Defence Group (VDG) scheme instead of the Village Defence Committee (VDC). The aim of this decision was to revitalise the rural defence network and streamline compensation payments, but VDC SPOs with 15 years or more of service have raised objections to this decision. As per the government's decision, it was decided to give ₹4,500 apiece to all VDC members and SPOs.

Consequently, the aggrieved VDC SPOs have filed a petition in the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court challenging this order of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Shashi Kumar said that he has spent more than 15 years as an SPO and his salary was ₹18,000, so how can he accept ₹4,500 per month? As this matter has been pending in the High Court since 2022-23, approximately 2300 VDC SPOs have not been paid any salary.

Kumar added that they joined the VDC to fight against terrorists and are demanding their regularity. The Ministry of Home Affairs' decision to convert VDC into VDG and fix ₹4,500 was arbitrary and unjust. They still possess weapons and equipment and perform their duties with the VDG, but they are not being paid. These officers are provided with standard rifles such as INSAS, SLR, and .303.

Kumar claimed that the decision of a single bench of the High Court was in favour of VDC SPOs. Currently, a further hearing on this matter was conducted by a double bench, in which data of VDC SPOs was sought from the Home Department, which has not been provided so far. The next hearing in this matter has been scheduled for 19 November. Kumar concluded by saying that fighting against trained terrorists for a salary of ₹6,000 to ₹18,000 is meaningless, yet they work at the risk of their lives and receive nothing but a garland at the time of retirement.

Special Police Officers (SPO) were employees working as helpers in the police force who assisted in local security and maintaining law and order.